Influencers With No Influence for Social Justice

Your voice is more powerful than you think. You have the power and influence to make a change, so why aren’t you trying to use it?

If you have spent time online, you have most likely come across the term influencer and have witnessed someone who works as an influencer. The term influencer has two definitions that can be interpreted differently depending on the individual.

A literal meaning of the term is “A person or thing that influences another (1).” Examples based on this definition are fictional characters, public figures, celebrities, and even family or friends. Before social media, the use of influence was mainly present in the media we consumed, whether it was news publications, advertisements, or entertainers. There was an outlet used to persuade people to take some form of action to either buy a product or service. People’s influence was also used during social movements to bring more attention and encourage people to take a stance. Almost anyone with some status or following had an influence that could be used to drive people to perform an act.

With the rise of the internet and the growth of social media, the second variation of the term influencer grew. This definition is used in marketing and online to describe influencers. Influencers are " people who can influence potential buyers of a product or service by promoting or recommending the items on social media (1).” This description puts a focus on marketing and sales. Influencers use their influence to encourage others to make purchases, which has been the standard view of influencers online. The push for them to sell products to their following has increased with the rise of social media. Marketers and brands have found an alternative to getting their products out to audiences, an alternative that is cost-efficient for the brand.

The appeal to be an influencer has grown with this increased awareness of how much money a person can make with their influence, along with the lifestyle that could come with a following that supports what you say. A person's status can be compared to the status of a celebrity or public figure. A comparison like this also comes with similar expectations. With this power, influencers have high expectations to make a difference. Similar to celebrities, their followers place these expectations on them, and individuals who believe a person with any power should be using it to help make a difference.

Along with supporters who believe they don’t have to use their platforms to make a difference. These supporters would even fight against criticism of their favorite influencers because they believe they have the right not to speak about any social justice. Some supporters would disagree with this statement, as they believe their influencers should be discussing social issues and posting their usual content. With these two definitions of influencers, let’s look at the current state of influencers, the potential future of influencers, and the ways everyone can use their influence to make a difference.

Is an influencer’s only obligation to promote products?

Over the past two months, we have seen people use their platforms to speak up to voice their disapproval of the crimes being committed against the Palestinians. As this has been happening, we have also seen more voices being uplifted to speak about Congo, Sudan, Trigray, and all the countries facing a silent genocide. People have been finding the courage to speak up about the genocides their countries have been facing after seeing what a powerful tool social media and the internet have been for Palestinian voices. We have seen people finally getting educated about what is going on, we have seen propaganda get debunked, and we have seen people start to use their platforms to uplift the voices of the unheard.

With all the incredible work people have been doing to make a difference, why is there still resistance against people advocating for influencers to speak up? Most of this discourse and criticism has occurred online, specifically on the social media platform TikTok. However, these discussions can be applied to anyone because everyone has a voice they can use to spread awareness and take action.

A problem has been present on social apps from followers feeling frustrated with influencers, creators, and celebrities they follow not speaking up for Palestine and any genocide taking place right now. This issue has led supporters to reach out and ask their favorite creators to speak up about the problems that are happening, which is a familiar request from followers. We have seen requests similar to this in the past with the BLM movement. Audiences clearly desire their favorite influencers to speak about issues they are facing.

In turn, this has led to some interesting reactions from other supporters and creators themselves. Some influencers have liked passive-aggressive comments about their right not to speak up. Other influencers have been blocking people, asking them to speak up, and others have been releasing statements stating that they can do nothing to help. Even when they have millions of followers or are the most followed person on a social media app, they believe their influence can’t help.

It should be mentioned that some people might not speak up due to fear. As we have seen, the media try to silence the truth. We have seen people lose their jobs and other countries lose support due to their care for the silent genocides going on in the world. An example would be Yemen losing its food support because of its support for Palestine.

The constant push and pressure from followers have led to influencers coming out a month later to speak up. All to come online to say, “ They are sorry for not speaking out sooner and that they were still taking time to educate themselves about the situation.” Someone might consider it good that their favorite creator has finally come out to speak about the topic. Others will say we should all be grateful that they said something to begin with.

No one has to be thankful for the bare minimum, and it's not a crime to expect more from an influencer when they have over a month and, some would say, years to gain knowledge on the issues at hand.

The real problem with pushing influencers who do not care to speak up is the fact that their statement won’t drive any focus on the issues present. Instead, we see a spike in gossip surrounding the fact that the person did not speak up sooner. The conversation becomes more about the influencer than speaking up against silent genocides. Part of this stems from the fact that some influencers will center themselves in the discussion instead of mentioning how their followers can help support them.

Supporters often will say to be grateful for their post, even when the post we should be thankful for does not mention any ways for followers to support the cause. The problem with influencers who do not care to use their influence is that they won’t use their influence to speak up long term. There is never a follow-up because the post was to silence people from saying they did not speak up.

In this current state of influencing, we must pay more attention to influencers who genuinely want to talk about the social issues present. There is an expectation for influencers to perform tasks that they don’t have a history of doing. Yes, influencers should use their influence. They should be using their power in their field of expertise if they genuinely care. It is crucial to have influencers who care to speak because when you’re trying to raise awareness and fight against progranda already present in the media, it becomes more complicated when the conversation shifts to “Why didn’t this person speak sooner?”

Instead, people should reevaluate their expectations and standards for influencers, creators, and public figures they choose to support. If it is essential for you to see your favorite creators talk about social issues, too, then maybe you should take action to focus only on those creators who do speak about social issues and post their everyday content. Especially when most influencers become influencers to make money and promote products. Most are here to sell us something, not encourage us to make a difference.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” - George Santayana, Philosopher

Now, with these social issues being present, there is more discussion about following influencers who will talk about current matters worldwide. With us being in a staged recession, people living paycheck to paycheck, and genocides taking place around the world, more and more people are getting tired of having their problems go unsolved.

Sure, people use their favorite influencers and content creators as escapism, but escapism can only work for so long. After all, escapism only covers up the problem at hand; eventually, the cover will fall, and all the issues will shine bright. This has made me think about the future state of influencers. They will not go away, but there will be a shift in the creators that start gaining support.

A person can do both: create their content and still talk about the social issues present. When talking about social problems, this does not mean the influencer will only talk about social issues or talk about them directly. I’m also including influencers who uplift the people who are talking about social inequalities.

With all of these discussions going around, one of the common excuses seems to stem from people thinking they don’t have the tools or skills to speak up about these topics. Unfortunately, people tend to turn away from talking about the troubles in the world, and it is not an everyday topic for many. One thing to remember is that these issues we are talking about are not political. They are human issues. Human problems that can affect anyone, including yourself.

Therefore, being asked to speak on topics should not put people in this weird spot on how to approach the conversation. You can show up as yourself and talk about these topics in your own content and communication style. Remember, these are human issues. They are severe and should not be treated as jokes. If your communication and content revolves around jokes, avoid making light of these issues. It is not okay to joke about the problems people face today, especially when there are no current solutions or changes in the matters at hand.

“Influencers who don’t typically make social or political commentary on what’s going on in the world are probably the perfect people to talk about these things.” - Christina Brown

If you are a creator of any kind, it is time to get creative. If you post GRWMs, you can discuss what is happening and how people can help while getting ready. Many creators have already been doing this, and on top of that, they have been showcasing brands that support the freedom of the countries facing genocide.

No one is asking you to be a history buff if you aren’t one. We ask you to uplift the voices of the unheard and continue spreading awareness. This is not a one-stop shop where you post and go, no. This requires continuous action and check-ins as there are constant, new updates and shifts to how people can support. Some people have even made TikTok filters people can use to donate money or buy e-sims to Palestinians. Others have made videos and music where they donate the proceeds to organizations working to free these countries. You can even repost other creator’s videos to bring more awareness to the topic.

The fact of the matter here is that most of us will never know what it feels like to fight every day to live. Most of us will have our lives carried on while others are battling to stay alive. It’s not the first time life has continued while others have ended. Unfortunately, it is not going to be the last.

However, the way we go about advocating and acting to prevent these issues from happening can change. With this shift in influence, we can still live by serving to make a difference. As an influencer, you can post your content and discuss the issues. People are working their everyday jobs, spreading awareness, and taking action. More people taking action and supporting these human issues can drive more people to do the same.

With how popular influencers and public figures are, it is common for the average person to feel they don’t have any ability to voice their opinions. Every day, we see individuals with huge followings get attention and support from the masses, while the average person does not get much room to be listened to. Social media's huge impact on our everyday lives reflects how people can go from unknowns to public figures overnight. The key detail to remember is that these people found huge success from their followers. Most would not have massive attention if not for the people watching them.

This is a reality for many because of the power a collective group can have when they decide to support someone. This power applies to supporting a cause. One thing that the internet has shown me is that anything is possible. It may feel impossible, but people have more power to make change than they realize. The past few weeks have demonstrated that influencers have power, but their followers have influence, too. People may try to silence your voice and your opinions. That should not stop you from wanting to speak out about what you feel is right.

It’s okay to follow people who also support what you believe is right. After all, the people we surround ourselves with reflect a part of our identity. It is normal to want the people around you to support the same movements as you. After all these issues affect you and other human beings, you would care if something terrible happened to the influencer you follow. Therefore, why is it too much to ask the person you follow to care about you?

Instead of focusing on what others aren’t doing or questioning why they aren’t speaking up, maybe concentrate on uplifting voices who are speaking up. Consider speaking up for yourself and what you believe in because gossiping about who is not speaking up does not solve anything.

This may be wishful thinking and optimism, but we all have the power and voice to make a change if we use it. After all this last month, we have seen the boycotts against Starbucks work, with them losing money and their businesses shutting down. No one can say our voices aren’t influential. A difference can be made if we all collectively choose to do something because we have influence, too.

Be the change you want to see. - Mahatma Gandhi

Thanks for reading!

LeAnn Sena